Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But Thomas said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

There is no other line by any person in the bible that better expresses pure faith than this simple statement “my Lord and my God”. I try to remember to say this quietly to myself at mass when the priest holds up the eucharist during the epiclesis of the eucharistic prayer. There is even a partial indulgence that is granted for anyone that does so. But it is more than just collecting indulgences, it is an overall disposition of the soul towards God, a disposition that places Him above all other things.

This is what Jesus means when He says “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” We whom are alive thousands of years after Christs death, do not have the luxury of Thomas, to see and then believe… And as a result, Jesus has given us a special blessing all of these years later. We who dont see are blessed with belief (from the holy spirit). If we can just dispose our lives to Him in everything, we will be blessed because our belief is based on faith and not on physical knowing.

We today embrace this lack of physical knowledge, because it makes your love greater in God’s eyes. And we thank Thomas for his doubt because his doubt has blessed all generations after him with the gift of Faith from the Holy Spirit. And Jesus’ blessing tells us that we can know Him all of these years later, despite all of the detractors that tell us that He is not real.

But the truth is that Jesus is as alive in our world today as He was 2000 years ago. He is is present in our churches, in the holy eucharist… Body blood soul and divinity. We can touch Him just like Thomas, and we can even be one with him, for a time, in Holy communion. It is a miracle, and it is a gift that is wrapped in a mystery but it is the “source and summit” of our faith. It is a free gift that asks only one thing in exchange, our belief, and our faith.

So next time you are in the pressence of the lord, at mass or in communion, express your faith in the way that Thomas showed us. Say “my Lord and my God” and ask Him to help you to believe more fully. But be ready to recieve, because God has so much that He wants to give you.

Oh lord, help me today to believe without seeing. amen.